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Background: Over the last fifty years, the frequency and intensity of disasters have escalated, highlighting the importance of healthcare practitioners (HCPs) being thoroughly prepared for disaster management. Despite this pressing need, there is a notable lack of well-developed and rigorously evaluated assessment tools to evaluate disaster preparedness among HCPs across various disciplines and disaster scenarios. This study aims to develop and evaluate a Disaster Management Assessment Tool for Health Care Practitioners (DMAT_HCP). Methods: The DMAT_HCP was designed following the four stages of the Disaster Management Framework and a literature review of similar previously validated tools. Content validity was assessed through two rounds of review by nine and six experts, whereas face validity was assessed by 11 HCPs. DMAT_HCP was tested on 107 HCPs from different health disciplines and settings to evaluate the structural (factor analysis) and construct (convergent and divergent) validities as well as internal consistency reliability. Results: DMAT_HCP comprised five Likert scales that assess the preparedness and readiness of HCPs for disaster, with satisfactory content validity indices (CVI > 0.83 for six experts). Factor analysis of the entire set of DMAT_HCP items suggested six factors: knowledge, two sub-domains of attitude, practice, willingness to practice, and organization-based management, which together accounted for 77.9% of the variance in the data. Convergent and divergent validity analyses showed that all items within a section had a correlation coefficient greater than 0.4 with their corresponding section score, and they were more strongly correlated with their own section than with scores from other sections. Cronbach's alpha values for the individual sections ranged from 0.89 (attitude) to 0.97 (organization-based management), and the overall Cronbach's alpha for the DMAT_HCP was 0.90. Conclusions: This study substantiated that DMAT_HCP is both conceptually and methodologically valid and reliable. It has demonstrated strong content validity, accurately measures the intended constructs, and effectively distinguishes between unrelated constructs. The tool also exhibited excellent internal consistency reliability across its components. The tool offers a comprehensive, globally applicable assessment of disaster management, suitable for use across various healthcare professions, settings, disaster contexts, and management phases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To determine the validity of malpractice claims, this study sought to determine the medico-legal significance of serum Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP) and Ubiquitin C-Terminal Hydrolase L1 (UCHL-1) as predictive biomarkers of outcome in mild and moderate traumatic brain injury (TBI). Methods: The present study was carried out on 60 admitted TBI cases categorized into a control group which included 20 healthy volunteers; a mildly injured group which included 40 cases of traumatic brain injuries with GCS (13–15); and moderate injured group which included 20 cases of traumatic brain injuries with GCS (9–12) admitted to the neurosurgery department at Ain Shams University Hospitals, serum levels of GFAP and UCHL-1 were evaluated within 12 h. Results: There were more male instances than female cases. The age group (18–25 years) represented the most common group subjected to traumatic brain injury, while the age group (> 61 years) was the least common among the studied cases. Serum GFAP and UCHL-1 could differentiate between mild and moderate TBI with 95% and 90% sensitivity and 95% and 75% specificity, respectively. Serum GFAP and UCHL-1 could distinguish between different CT findings with 78.95% and 89.46% sensitivity and 100% and 91.43% specificity, respectively. Conclusion: The accuracy of serum GFAP alone was greater than the accuracy of the measurement of both biomarkers, and the accuracy of the combination of all variables was slightly better than that of serum GFAP alone as a predictor of unfavorable outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Urinary ascites in a newborn infant is unusual and most commonly indicates a disruption to the integrity of urinary tract, the most common cause being posterior urethral valve. We report a case of fetal urinary bladder rupture due to posterior urethral valve. The case was diagnosed antenatally by ultrasonography and after birth the diagnosis is confirmed by ascitic fluid study and imaging technique and managed successfully by participation of gynecologist, neonatologist, radiologist and urologist. Urinary ascites should be considered in a male neonate with ascites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Field study was conducted in Barsiq village, Abu Homs city, Beheira Governorate during two successive seasons, summer seasons 2021 and 2022. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of two entomopathogenic 'fungi, Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae three concentrations 1x106, 1x109 and 1x1012 spores/ml were used. Also, three commercial bioinsecticides [Biosiana 2.5% WP, Biometa 2.5% WP and Ememactin benzoat 5.7% WG]. The insecticide Methomyl 90% SP, for comparison under field conditions on the population of potato tuber moth, Phthorimaea operculella (Zeller) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) which is considered the main insect pest that attacks potato Solanum tuberosum L. The obtained results showed the efficiency of tested control methods to protect potato foliage from PTM infestation, the highest value was recorded with Methomyl insecticide, followed by E. benzoat, combining E. benzoat with Biosiana, E. benzoat with Biometa, Biosiana, Biometa respectively. While the entomopathogenic fungi B. bassiana 1×1012, 1×109, 1×106 and M. anisopliae 1×1012, 1×109, 1×106, respectively. The relation between treatments and potato yield indicated that the highest increase of the potato yield was recorded with Methomyl insecticide, followed by, E. benzoat, combining E. benzoat with Biosiana, E. benzoat with Biometa, Biosiana and, Biometa respectively, Biosiana, Biometa, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae three concentrations (1×1012, 1×109, 1×106) spores/ml. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A pot experiment was conducted at the Ornamental Department of the Horticulture Research Station in Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during two seasons, 2021 and 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application with nano-NPK and nano-chitosan using different doses under soil salinity stress on the growth and physiochemical attributes of Kigelia africana L. transplants. The treatments were mineral NPK using 5 g L-1 as a control, nano-NPK at three doses including 1, 2, and 3 ml L-1, as well as nano-NPK at only one dose of 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at three doses (i.e., 1, 2 and 3 ml L-1) for each. The obtained results showed that the applied nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 significantly increased plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), fresh and dry weight of vegetative parts per transplant (g), membrane stability index, as well as root length (cm), number of roots and root fresh and dry weights plant with the superiority of nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 over control in both seasons. Most treatments recorded significantly higher values in chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, catalase, and peroxidase activity in the leaves than control, with the superiority of nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 transplants compared to the control. The nutrient contents of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in the leaves were significantly increased over the control for all treatments, especially in the treatment of nano-NPK + nano-chitosan at 2 ml L-1 under soil salinity stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Globally, every year, 20 million neonates are born with weights below 2500 g and are considered low birth weight (LBW). About 90% of these births occur in low- and middle-income countries. Information regarding the geographical variation, socioeconomic inequalities of LBW neonates, and the relationship between maternal inadequate dietary diversity and LBW is limited in rural areas of Bangladesh. We aimed to explore the geographical disparities and socioeconomic inequalities in the prevalence of LBW and its association with inadequate maternal dietary diversity. Methods We extracted data from a large-scale evaluation programme conducted as a part of the maternal infant and young child nutrition phase two in Bangladesh, implemented by BRAC. We used the concentration index (CIX) to measure the socioeconomic inequalities of LBW. We performed a cluster-adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the association between LBW and maternal dietary diversity. Results A total of 4651 children aged <5 years with their mother’s information were included. The overall prevalence of LBW was 13.5%. About 16% of mothers living in the poorest wealth quintile gave birth to LBW babies, whereas 10% of mothers living in the richest households gave birth to LBW babies. The CIX exhibited LBW babies were more prevalent among the socioeconomically worst-off (poorest) group (CIX=−0.08), indicating mothers of the poorest households are vulnerable to giving birth to normal-weight babies. An adjusted multiple logistic regression model indicated that mothers with inadequate dietary diversity had higher odds (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.04, 1.54) of giving birth to LBW babies. Notably, in the interaction of mothers’ age and dietary diversity, we found that adolescent mothers (aged ≤19 years) with inadequate dietary diversity had 2.56 times (AOR=2.56; 95% CI=1.14, 5.76) higher odds of giving birth to LBW babies compared to adult mothers (aged >19 years) who consumed diversified foods. Conclusions Intervention strategies for reducing LBW prevalence should target the poorest households. Also, interventions for improving the dietary diversity of adolescent pregnant mothers are expected to reduce the number of LBW babies from the rural areas of Bangladesh. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil salinity is considered a serious and limiting factor reducing the crop productivity in particular under arid, and semi-arid conditions. Pot experiments were conducted at the Ornamental Department of the Horticulture Research Station in Sakha, Kafr El-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt during the season of 2021 and 2022. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of foliar application with nano-NPK and nano-sulfur using different doses on the growth and chemical compounds of Khaya senegalensis L. under salinity stress. The studied treatments were mineral NPK fertilizer at 5 g L-1 (as a control), applied nano-NPK at 1, 2 and 3 ml L-1, besides three combinations of nano NPK (2 ml L-1) and applied nano-sulfur at 1, 2 and 3 ml L-1, separately. The obtained results showed that the treatment of nano-NPK 2 ml L-1 + nano-sulfur 2 and/or 3 ml L-1 significantly increased plant height (cm), stem diameter (cm), fresh and dry weights of vegetative parts per seedling (g), membrane stability index, as well as root length (cm), number of roots and root fresh and dry weights per plant. The superiority of the nano-NPK at 2 ml L-1 + nano-sulfur at 2 ml L-1 treatment comparing with the control in both seasons. Most treatments recorded significantly higher chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, catalase and peroxidase activity in the leaves than control. A superiority was found after applying nano-NPK 2 ml L-1 + nano-sulfur 2 ml L-1 in both seasons for nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content in the leaves, which was significantly increased over the control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]